Mother, daughter stabbed to death in Delhi apartment

NEW DELHI: A 25-year-old woman and her mother were murdered in their apartment at a housing society in east Delhi’s New Ashok Nagar early Monday, allegedly by the younger woman’s friend and his associate.

The alleged attackers drove away with the victims’ car after stabbing them multiple times but one of them was later caught near Jaipur, police said.

The daughter, Samrita Mary, had trained in hotel management and had recently interned with a five-star hotel in Delhi. Her mother, 45-year-old Sumita Mary, worked with an event management firm.

A senior investigator said the mother-daughter duo was murdered by Samrita’s friend Vikrant Nagar alias Vinay, and his associate, whose identity is yet to be confirmed. “Our initial probe suggested relationship issues between Samrita and Vikrant had something to do with the killings,” the investigator said. Jasmeet Singh, DCP (east district), said Vikrant was caught near Jaipur while he was trying to escape in a bus. His associate is on the run. Vikrant is yet to be formally arrested.

The Marys hailed from Kerala but had been living in a two-bedroom flat they owned in the Mansara Apartments in New Ashok Nagar. Sumita had lost her husband years ago and lived with Samrita, who was her only child.

“Samrita and Vikrant were friends for many years, but their friendship had begun to sour recently,” said Samrita’s friend, who refused to reveal his name. A man in his early 20s, Vikrant lives in south Delhi’s Amar Colony and was into modelling until sometime ago, a police officer said.

Investigators said the murders took place sometime between midnight and 4 am on Monday when Vikrant and his associate drove away from the apartment in a Baleno car belonging to the Marys.